Stuff-box regulator



"Aug. 26 1924.

C. C. YATES STUFF BOX REGULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed "Jan. 11, 1922 I g Aug c. g. YATES STUFF BOX REGULATOR Filed Jam. l1 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 26, 1924 UNITED STATES CALVIN C. YATES, OF LEE, MASSACHUSETTS.

STUFF-BOX REGULATOR.

Application filed January 11, 1922. Serial No. 528,513.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, CALVIN C. YAT-ns, a citizen of the United States, residing atvLee, county of Berkshire, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Stuff-Box Regulators, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in stock regulating devices for paper making machines.

In making paper the stock, which is in the form of pulp mixed with water, is fed to the paper making machine, as for instance, to the making wire of a Fourdrinier machine through an adjustable gate from a box technically known as the stuff box. The stock is supplied to this stud box from a stuff chest by a pump. To ensure there always being suflicient stock, the stock is supplied by the pump in quantities greater than flows to the wire, and the box is therefore provided with an overflow for carrying off the surplus, this overflow returning the surplus back to the stuff chest from which the stock is pumped. This stock varies as to its consistency, that is, the pulp or fibre content of the stock will vary so that at times thick stock is delivered by the pump and at other times thin stock, that is stock in which less pulp is present. The gate through which the stock is delivered to the wire of the paper making machine is adjusted for a given weight of paper, that is the gate is adjusted so as to permit suliicient stock to pass through over the wire to make a paper of a certain weight. It the stock were delivered with the varying pulp content as supplied to the stuff chest irregularities in the paper occur.

When thick stock is supplied to the stutl box it does not flow away so freely from the overflow and consequently the stock piles up in the box and too much stock is delivered. On the other hand, thin stock flows away too freely and not sufiicient stock is delivered at the gate to form-a sheet of the required weight. I

It is the especial object of the present invention to provide a regulator by which these variations in the consistency of the stock supplied to the box may be automatically equalized, the gate adjustment having been once set for a given run remaining fixed so thatthis adjustment does not have to be changed and an even equal run of stock through the gate maybe obtained. Thi object is effected by so delivering the stock that the head or pressure of the stock is varied as the stock increases or decreases in thickness, so that when the stock is thick the stock is delivered under less pressure and thereby in less volume per unit of time, and when the stock is thin the pressure is increased so as to deliver the stock in greater volume per time unit, and thus equalize the pulp content of the stock at the 'wire, so that having a given gate adjustment the pulp content of the stock delivered is the same whether the stock be thick or thin.

,It is a further object of the present invention to effect the control of the stock by the head or pressure of the stock in the stuff box, and to provide a, simple and effic'ient apparatus for efi'ecting these objects.

with these and other objects not specifically referred to in View, the invention con sists in certain novel parts, combinations and arrangements, which will be fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features of which will then be pointedout i'n'the claims hereunto annexed.

In these'dra'wings- Figure l is a plan view of one form of apparatus for effecting the automatic regulation of the stock.

Figure 2 is a section through the regulator proper, the section being taken on line 22 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Figure 3 is a side View, partly in section, looking in the direction of arrow 3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4; is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the float arm and its connection to the regulator.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View, the section being taken on line 55 of Fig, 4.

Figure 6 is an end view; and

Figure 7 is a side view of a modified form of apparatus.

Referring to these drawings and first to Figs. 1 to 5, there is shown a stuff box marked 1, supported on frames 2- rising from a suitable base 3, this stuff b'ox being located in a convenient point adjacent the paper making machine, not shown. Stuff is supplied to this box, preferably from another box 4, from a suitable source of supply by a pump, not illustrated, through a pipe 4: this pipe leading into the bottom of thebox, this construction being adapted ,to'ensure a steady flow of stock, not affected bythe pulsations of the pump.

In carrying out the invention the usual practice of providing a gate somewhere in the walls of this box from which stock is delivered to the wire is departed from and there is provided a regulator separate from the box to which the stock is delivered from the box. This regulator is in the form of a movable chamber, and it is provided with a delivery opening, which may be an adjustable gate through which the stock is delivered, such construction being illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5. While the particular form of this chamber may be varied, the chamber will be arranged and constructed so that it may be movable in order that the delivery opening may be moved up or down so as to increase or decrease the head or pressure of the stock in the chamber, so that such stock will be delivered from the gate under a greater or less head or pressure, depending on the thickness of the stock, and the movement of this chamber will be'controlled by the head or pressure of the stock in the stuff box, this head or pressure of the stock in the stuff box varying according to the pulp content.

In the particular construction illustrated there is provided a movable chamber 5 located closely adjacent the stuff box 1 and to which stuff is delivered from the stuff box through a sluice 6 formed in the upper part of one of the walls of the box. This chamber is in the form of a circular drum or cylinder having closed ends and which is provided with a top opening 7 into which stock flows from the sluice 6. This drum has formed in its upper part an overflow outlet, indicated at 8, which delivers into a sluice 9, and from this sluice surplus stock may be returned to the source of supply by a pipe 10. The drum is also provided with a delivery outlet 11 formed in the drum walls below the discharge outlet 8, just referred to, this outlet leading to a sluice 12 carried by the drum walls, this sluice delivering to the flow box 13 from which the stock is delivered to the wire of the machine not shown.

The delivery outlet 11 in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 is controlled by a gate '14 mounted to slide in guides 15 in the drum walls. This gate is adjustable in the guides and is set for any given run of the machine, and having once been adjusted remains the same for suchrun. may be adjustable in various ways, but in tneparticular construction illustrated there is shown a screw rod 16 working through a thrust block 17 carried in a bracket 18 fast to the drum, the rod being manipulated by means of a hand wheel 19 to effect the adjustment of the gate.

in accordance with the invention, mecha- T he gate nism is provided for rotating this drum to vary the pressure head of the stock therein. As for instance, by turning the drum to the left in the direction of the arrow in Fig.

2, the outlet would be raised and consequently the pressure head would be decreased, and vice versa, and in constructions embodying the invention the movement in this drum is controlled by the head or pressure of the stock in the stuff box. While various means may be provided for effectthat the end of the arm can be moved to- V ward and from the center of the drum for adjusting the throw that is given to the drum by the movement of the arm. \Vhile this may be effected in various ways, in the particular construction illustrated, there is provided a plate 25 formed with a slot 26 in which may be positioned a bolt 27, this bolt being held in position in the slot 26 by means of a nut 28. This bolt at its outer ends extends through a slot 29 formed in the end of the arm 2st, the bolt having a a nut 30 for holding the arm in position, the arm working on the shank of this bolt as it is moved by the float. With this cone struction the arc of theswinging movement of the may be lengthened or diminished, and this acts to vary the movement of the drum as desired. V i Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, in the construction shown in these figures the adjustable gate 14, before referred to, is omitted, and the regulator chamber is made to effect the functions of the gate. Meansare provided for adjusting the regulator so that for a given run to make a given weight of paper the regulator chamber maybe moved to the right or left thus raising'or'lowering the delivery outlet 11, so that under normal conditions the stock will flow through under 1 a certain head or pressure and in-the required volume. If, however, the conditions become abnormal, the regulator is operated, as before described, to vary the pressure at the delivery and consequently the volume per unit of timeythis operation being-controlled by the pressure head in the stuff box as before described. 1

In the particular apparatus illustrated the chamber is provided with an adjusting device by which it canbe rotated independent 1y of the float, for adjusting it for a particular run. As shown the lever arm 24: instead of extending downward on the side of the drum extends straight across above the drum and is provided with a slot 40 in which takes the upper end of a screw rod 4C1 on which is a hand wheel 42 by which the rod may be moved up, the usual thrust collars 43 being provided on the rod on eachside of the arm 24. The other endof the rod 41 has secured thereto a pin 44 which takes in a slotted plate 45 fast on one end ofthe drum, this pin being adjustably held in the slot by a lock nut 46. With this construction the rod may be moved toward or from the periphery of the drum, and thus the movement imparted by the float arm 24 to the drum may be varied as desired.

IVith this modified construction the regulations of the stock is effected as before described. The stock when thick causes an upward movement of the float which causes the drum to be rotated so that the delivery opening is raised, thus lowering the overflow outlet and reducing the pressure at which the stock is fed. Vice versa when the float drops the delivery opening is moved downwardly thus increasing the pressure and the volume of stock delivered per unit of time.

With the construction described the. stock is delivered from the stuff box to the regulator drum. As the pulp content or stock increases in thickness the stock piles up in the stuff box, lifts the float, which in turn rotates the drum to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the gate is elevated and the pressure head reduced thereby slowing down the delivery of stock per time unit through the gate. When the stock is thin, however, the reverse movement takes place, the stock flowing freely away from the stuff box permitting the float to drop which rotates the drum so as to lower the delivery opening and thus increase the pressure head supplying stock in greater volume per time unit.

I/Vhile the invention has been shown in what is thought to be its best form, it will be understood that changes and variations may be made in the specific mechanism by which the pressure head is regulated, and that the invention is not to be restricted to the. exact mechanism described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a stuif box and means for delivering stock thereto, a regulator chamber to which the stock is delivered from the box, a delivery opening in the chamber, and means controlled by the consistency of the stock in the box for increasing or decreasing the pressure head of the stock in the chamber to vary the volume of stock passing through the delivery opening per unit of time.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a stuff box and means for delivering stock thereto, a movable regulator chamber having a delivery opening and an outlet, and means for moving the charmber'for raising or lowering the delivery outlet to increase or decrease the pressure head of the stock in the, chamber.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a stuff box and means for delivering stock thereto, a rotary regulator chamber having a delivery opening and an. outlet, and means for rotating the chamber to raise and lower the delivery outlet to increase or decrease the pressure head of the stock in the chamber.

4. In a stuff regulator for paper making machines, the combination of a stuff box and means for supplying stock thereto, a float in the box, a movable regulator chamber to which stock is delivered from the box, a delivery opening in the chamber, and connections between the float and the chamber for moving the chamber to increase or decrease the pressure head of the stock in the chamber.

5. In a stuff regulator for paper makingmachines, the combination of a stuff box and means for supplying stock thereto, a float in the box, a rotary regulator chamber to which stock is delivered from the box, a delivery opening in the chamber, and connections between the float and the chamber for rotating the chamber to increase or decrease the pressure head of the stock in the chamber.

6. In a stuif regulator for paper makin machines, the combination of a stuff box an means for supplying stock thereto, a float in the chamber, a movable regulator chamber to which stock is delivered from the box, a delivery opening in the chamber, means for varying the volume of stock passing through the delivery opening for a given run, and connections between the float and the chamber for moving the chamber to increase or decrease the pressure head of the stock in the chamber.

7. In a stufl regulator for paper making machines, the combination of a stuff box and means for supplying stock thereto, a float in the box, a movable chamber to which stock is delivered from the box operated from the float to vary the pressure head of the stock in the chamber, and means for varying the movement given the chamber by the float.

8. In a stuff regulator for paper making machines, the combination of a stufl box and means for supplying stock thereto, a float in the box, a movable chamber to which the stock is delivered and having a delivery outlet and moved by the float, means for varying the volume of stock passing the delivery opening for a given run, and means for varying the movement given the chamber by the float.

9. In a stuff regulator, a stufl' box, a movable chamber to which stock is delivered from the box, a float in the box, and a float arm connected to the chamber for moving it.

10. In a stufi' regulator, a stuff box, a rotary chamber to which stock is delivered from the box, a float in the box, and a float 5 arm connected to the chamber for rotating it.

11. In a stuff regulator, a stuff box, a rotary chamber to which stock is delivered from the box, afloat in the box, a float arm connected to the chamber, and means for moving the point of connection toward and from the periphery of the chamber.

12. In a stuff regulator, a stuff box, a movable chamber to which stock is delivered l3 from the box, a delivery gate carried by the for varying the amount of movement given the chamber by the float.

14. In a stud regulator, a stufi box, a movable chamber to which stock is delivered from the box and having a delivery opening, means for adjusting the amount of stock passing through the opening for normal running, a float in the box, a float arm, connections from the arm to the chamber, and means for adjustingthe connections to vary the movement given the chamber by the arm.

15. In a stuit box regulator, the combina tion with the stuff box and means for delivering stock thereto, of a regulator chamber to which stock is delivered from the box and from which stock is delivered,- and my hand.

CALVIN C. YATES. 

